11 Economics Programs for Middle School Students
If you are a middle school student curious about how money, markets, and businesses work, an economics program can help you explore these ideas in a structured way. Through guided lessons, simulations, and project-based activities, you can begin building analytical thinking, financial literacy, and problem-solving skills that will support you in high school and beyond. Early exposure to economics also helps you become more confident in making informed decisions about spending, saving, and evaluating trade-offs.
What are the benefits of an economics program?
Economics programs introduce core concepts such as supply and demand, opportunity cost, entrepreneurship, and decision-making, and provide opportunities to apply them through case studies, simulations, and research projects. By working through practical scenarios such as running a mock business, analyzing data, or designing a business idea, you strengthen your logical reasoning, communication, and collaboration skills. Over time, this foundation can help you better understand current events, public policy debates, and the financial systems that shape everyday life.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 11 economics programs for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Veritas AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Financial aid available (up to 100% based on need)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio
Dates: Spring Cohort – 25 hours over 10 weekends; Summer Cohort – 25 hours over 2 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
Veritas AI's AI Trailblazers program is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and developing an algorithm to generate a custom list of educational resources based on specified criteria.
2. JA BizTown – Junior Achievement USA
Location: Offered nationwide (in-person and virtual simulation options available)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by local JA chapter; scholarships or school-funded participation often available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: School-based enrollment; non-selective
Dates: Varies by school schedule (typically semester-based with a one-day simulation capstone)
Application Deadline: Determined by participating school or JA regional office
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 4–6
JA BizTown is a dynamic learning experience that helps students understand how economics works in everyday life. Through a blend of classroom lessons and a hands-on simulation, you’ll learn to run a business, manage a bank account, create budgets, and even vote for a town mayor. The program bridges economic theory and practice by guiding you through real-world concepts like supply and demand, business operations, and civic engagement. You’ll also develop essential soft skills, including teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. The program culminates in a 4–5-hour visit to a simulated town, where you apply everything you’ve learned by managing stores, serving customers, and handling finances, providing a practical foundation in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
3. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 interested in exploring academic fields through research
Founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, the Lumiere Junior Explorer Program allows middle school students to work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor to explore an academic passion and create an independent project. Over eight weeks, you’ll brainstorm topics, conduct research, and develop a final output such as a research paper, presentation, or business case study. Past students have pursued projects in finance and economics, analyzing market data or investigating real-world economic systems. The program emphasizes critical thinking, academic writing, and inquiry-based learning, providing an early introduction to structured research. With personalized mentorship and a flexible timeline, it’s one of the most comprehensive economics programs for middle school students seeking in-depth, project-based learning.
4. Middle School Economics Lessons – James Madison University Center for Economic Education
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-access; no application required
Dates: Self-paced; lessons can be completed individually or integrated into classroom instruction
Application Deadline: None (available year-round)
Eligibility: Recommended for students in grades 6–8
Hosted by the Center for Economic Education at James Madison University, this online resource offers a curated set of economics lessons for middle school students. Each module explores key economic concepts, including opportunity cost, supply and demand, productivity, and the circular flow of money, through literature-based and activity-based exercises. For instance, in “Lawn Boy,” you’ll examine entrepreneurship and taxation, while “The Giver: Jonas Makes a Choice” introduces decision-making and trade-offs. The lessons include interactive elements such as charts, cost-benefit analyses, and short written reflections to reinforce understanding. Designed in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and EconEdLink, these materials give students a flexible way to build economic literacy and analytical reasoning skills aligned with national education standards.
5. JA It’s My Future – Junior Achievement USA
Location: Available nationwide; options for classroom-based, after-school, and virtual participation
Cost: Varies by local JA chapter; often free through school or community partnerships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective
Dates: Six 45-minute sessions (plus optional extended activities)
Application Deadline: Determined by participating school or JA regional office
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 6–8)
JA It’s My Future prepares middle school students for future careers by developing their understanding of the working world. Through a mix of classroom discussions, activities, and interactive simulations, you’ll learn how to identify career interests, build a basic résumé, and practice interview skills. The program also emphasizes crucial soft skills, including professionalism, communication, and problem-solving, which are foundational to future success in economics and business. The Civics Enhancement version incorporates lessons on civic engagement and workplace responsibility, connecting economic literacy to community participation. Offered through Junior Achievement’s Work and Career Readiness Pathway, this program provides students with a structured way to explore potential careers and understand the economic forces shaping the job market.
6. Personal Finance – Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-access course; no application required
Dates: Self-paced; typically completed over 9 weeks
Application Deadline: None (enrollment open year-round)
Eligibility: Designed for students in grades 6–8
Next Gen Personal Finance’s Middle School Course offers an engaging introduction to economics and personal money management. Explore nine interactive units covering essential topics, including budgeting, saving, investing, and consumer decision-making, all crucial to developing future financial literacy. You will complete assessments and a final project, applying classroom concepts to real-world financial situations, such as planning high school expenses or setting savings goals. The course promotes reflection on money values and tradeoffs, demonstrating how financial decisions affect individuals and society.
7. UC Berkeley – Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) Middle School Entrepreneurship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: February 1 – April 15
Application Deadline: December 20
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6–8
The B‑BAY Middle School After School Program is a virtual business and entrepreneurship enrichment series offered by the UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth, inviting middle school students to explore how business ideas are developed and brought to life. Through interactive online sessions, participants learn core business fundamentals, teamwork, and creative problem‑solving while exploring a themed topic such as artificial intelligence and its role in modern industries. Students collaborate on projects, apply frameworks such as the Business Model Canvas, and build communication skills to turn ideas into actionable concepts. The experience is designed to blend practical business knowledge with opportunities to innovate and present solutions within a supportive peer cohort.
8. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth – Game Theory and Economics
Location: Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, and Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA
Cost: $6,717 – Commuter; $7,549 – Residential
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer A: Jun 28 - Jul 17 | Summer B: Jul 19 - Aug 7
Application Deadline: Summer A: May 11 | Summer B: June 8
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–11 who have completed Algebra I or Honors Algebra I and meet CTY quantitative identification requirements
The Game Theory and Economics course at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is an in-person summer program where students explore strategic reasoning and its applications in economic and business contexts. Through discussions, mathematical analysis, and class activities, students learn how game-theory concepts such as Nash equilibria and competitive decision‑making can model real‑world economic situations, including auctions, pricing strategies, and market behavior. The course emphasizes analytical thinking and problem-solving, helping participants understand how strategic interactions influence economic outcomes. Students collaborate with peers in a rigorous, intellectually engaging environment.
9. Mario’s Choice – Decision Making and Opportunity Cost
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-access; no registration required
Dates: Self-paced; approximately 45 minutes to complete
Application Deadline: None (available year-round)
Eligibility: Designed for students in grades 6–8
Created by the Council for Economic Education (CEE), Mario’s Choice introduces middle schoolers to the fundamentals of economic decision-making through an engaging, story-based lesson. Students will analyze Mario's choice between purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2, a Lego set, or basketball tickets to understand scarcity, opportunity cost, and personal finance. The activity helps you understand that every decision involves trade-offs and encourages reflection by having you write your own “Scarcity Story.” By combining relatable examples with critical thinking exercises, this lesson provides a strong foundation in basic economic principles and illustrates how decision-making affects both personal goals and financial outcomes.
10. Early Forms of Money – Council for Economic Education (CEE)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free to access and download
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-access; no registration required
Dates: Self-paced; approximately 45–60 minutes to complete
Application Deadline: None (available year-round)
Eligibility: Designed for middle school students
Early Forms of Money introduces students to the origins and evolution of currency across different civilizations. In this lesson, you’ll explore how societies have used items such as shells, salt, and metals to facilitate trade before the development of modern paper money and digital currencies. Comparing barter with monetary economies provides a fundamental understanding of money's roles as a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account. This activity integrates historical analysis with practical exercises, illustrating how economic systems adapt to human needs.
11. Seas, Trees, and Economies – Council for Economic Education (CEE)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free for educators and students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-access; no application required
Dates: Flexible; each of the ten lessons can be completed in 45–60 minutes
Application Deadline: None (available year-round)
Eligibility: Designed for middle school students
Seas, Trees, and Economies helps students explore the intersection of the environment and economics. Through ten interactive lessons and activities, you’ll learn how natural resources support economic systems and how production and consumption impact the planet. Through interactive simulations and narratives such as "The Mystery Trees of Island Breeze" and "A Bad Deal for the Rain Forests," you will explore concepts including scarcity, incentives, and external costs. By linking ecological principles with market concepts, Seas, Trees, and Economies provides a hands-on, interdisciplinary foundation for middle school economics programs that engage students interested in sustainability and real-world economic challenges.